"Hey, man, how long have you been tied up here?"
"Not a great experience, huh?"
Kaito Sakamoto asked, but Zoro remained silent.
In the original storyline, Zoro had been tied up for nine days before Luffy rescued him.
Kaito sighed, needing to know how many days Zoro had been bound so he could predict whether Luffy would come to save them today.
Meanwhile, with Luffy:
"Who is this rude old hag?"
One sentence, and everyone's jaws dropped.
"Take that back! Luffy, she's… she's the most feared woman in these waters…" Coby stammered, tugging at Luffy.
Halfway through his sentence, though, Coby was overwhelmed by Luffy's sheer determination to become the Pirate King, even if it meant facing death.
"The most awful, savage old hag!!!" Coby shouted, eyes brimming with tears, as he summoned the courage to speak.
He wasn't sure about Luffy's strength. If Luffy was as weak as he was, they'd both be doomed.
But fortune favors the bold.
"Gum-Gum... Pistol!"
Though Alvida struck Luffy with her club, he remained unharmed and responded with a punch that sent her sprawling. Not even her bulk could rival the Sea King!
"Give Coby a ship—he's joining the Navy! None of you are to interfere!" Luffy declared, pointing coolly at Alvida's henchmen.
"S-Sir!" They agreed immediately, unwilling to provoke Luffy after he had effortlessly defeated Alvida.
"You're a rubber man, huh, Luffy? This is unbelievable."
The scene shifted to Luffy and Coby sailing in a small boat.
"To reach the Grand Line for the One Piece, you'll need to enter the so-called 'Pirates' Graveyard,'" Coby warned, having gained knowledge about the dangers of the sea from his own aspirations to join the Navy.
"Exactly! That's why I need strong crewmates." Luffy grinned.
"Speaking of crewmates, what about your friend, Kaito Sakamoto? How do you plan to find him?" Coby asked, recalling Kaito's name.
"Like Kaito said, if we're destined to meet, we will." Luffy laughed. "He's as strong as I am—he just doesn't show it often. No need to worry about him."
"But for now, you mentioned someone called… Roronoa Zoro? If he's any good, he might make a great addition to my crew." Luffy bared his teeth in a wide smile.
Back with Kaito:
"I heard there's a bounty hunter in the East Blue named Roronoa Zoro, green-haired like you. Is that you, brother?"
"So, how did a bounty hunter end up captured by the Navy? Ever considered becoming a pirate?"
"You're out of your mind, Luffy! That guy's a devil!" Coby exclaimed, hearing the name.
"He hunts pirates like a bloodthirsty hound on the prowl, mercilessly capturing them," Coby continued, voice shaking.
"They call him 'the Devil in Human Skin!'"
"The Devil in Human Skin," Kaito echoed. "Sounds terrifying."
"So, are you going to say something, or ignore me forever?"
"Shut up!" Zoro finally snapped after Kaito's persistent questions.
"You're tied up, can't you just be quiet?"
"Calling me weak? I don't like that tone, friend." Kaito grinned.
"You're tied up too! If I'm a weakling, what does that make you?"
"I'm here by choice. You were dragged here." Zoro retorted, visibly annoyed.
"Is that so?" Kaito scratched his face nonchalantly.
Zoro noticed out of the corner of his eye. "Did you… just untie your hands?"
"Nope, you must've imagined it," Kaito replied, smiling. "If I could do that, I'd be long gone by now."
Just then, a young girl climbed over the Navy base wall, sneaking in. So, this is Navy security?
Seeing her, Kaito knew he didn't need to go elsewhere. Luffy would come for them soon. The sun was scorching, but with Zoro beside him, he didn't mind.
"Mister, I saw you tied up here for days, so I brought rice balls for you," the girl said, holding out the food to Zoro.
She had only brought two, and seeing Kaito, she looked a bit embarrassed.
Kaito chuckled, admiring her innocence.
"I'm not hungry; I just got here today," Kaito reassured her, easing her discomfort as she held the rice balls out to Zoro.
"Get lost! I don't want your rice balls!" Zoro barked, though it was for her own good. He didn't want her getting in trouble with the Navy.
Unfortunately, his timing couldn't have been worse. Helmeppo appeared, two soldiers in tow.
"Well, well, picking on little girls, are we, Roronoa Zoro?"
"I'll be sure to let my father know."
"I am the…"
"Kaito"
"…son!"
Luffy's timing was impeccable, showing up just then.
Kaito shook his head slightly, grinning. "Nah, I don't remember having a kid with a… butt-shaped chin."